Common WordPress Myths

WordPress is a powerful Content Management System (CMS) used to make both small and large scale websites. Over 30% of the world’s websites use WordPress and this includes some famous names such as BBC America, Sony Music and Microsoft News.

Despite this there are still a number of myths that cast a shadow over WordPress, making people doubt its capabilities. In this article we put to bed some of those myths.

WordPress websites are all templates

Many believe that all WordPress websites look the same.

If you opt to purchase an off-the-shelf WordPress theme then yes there is a chance that your website will look the same as many others. However, in truth there are thousands of themes available to buy therefore not everyone is going to have the same one. Furthermore, many of them come with features that will allow you to customise a range of things, including colours, fonts and even layouts. This can be a great solution for those on small budgets.

If you are looking for something bespoke you can approach a WordPress specialist to build a custom theme for your business. This way you can be sure that your website will be unique. When it comes to design and layout WordPress does not limit creativity. When we design themes for our clients we start in Photoshop and have no concern about whether WordPress can fulfil our ideas.

WordPress is for small businesses

WordPress is perfect for both small and large businesses whether you are looking for a catalogue or full-blown ecommerce website. As previously mentioned, WordPress powers a large percentage of the world’s websites and this includes some well-known brands.

If you require advanced functionality on your website there are a huge number of plugins available to choose from. Developers build plugins and they can be installed onto your website through the admin area. They have been tried and tested not only by developers but also other people hoping to achieve the same outcome as you. Furthermore, you can often read reviews on plugins giving you extra peace of mind on their performance and stability.

You can also ask a WordPress specialist to build you a bespoke plugin or customise your theme to include any additional features that you require.

In summary, if it is possible with a non-WordPress website then it is likely to be also possible in WordPress. You just need to know how.

WordPress is (just) a blogging platform

WordPress started out as a blogging platform, since then it has evolved. It is now more known for being used as a CMS that is capable of handling a wide range of websites. Don’t get me wrong it is still a great solution for those that require blog functionality but it is also so much more than this.

WordPress is now used across the globe by a number of industries and bodies to power their websites. This includes government, education, corporate, health and beauty, hospitality, entertainment, transport, agriculture, construction and many more.

Whether you are looking for a catalogue, a multi-language or ecommerce website WordPress can support your business.

WordPress is not scalable

Overtime many businesses adapt and grow and with this they also require their website to do the same. WordPress offers a scalable solution for websites. For example, your website may start as a catalogue and then need to evolve to sell products or services. This can be achieved using plugins or a developer can add bespoke functionality onto your website depending on your requirements.

The admin area also makes it easy to add and structure new pages. Depending on your theme you may also be able to adjust the layout of pages to account for any changes in content.

There are other factors that also need to be considered when growing your website. For example, if there is an increase in traffic then you will need to ensure that your hosting package can cope with this.

WordPress is not secure

Hackers will try to exploit the smallest of vulnerabilities in any software, not just WordPress. The WordPress core is actually pretty secure and let’s not forget that it is being constantly updated by expert developers across the globe to enhance both performance and security.

A hacked WordPress website can be down to a number of factors including a vulnerability in a theme or plugin. It can also be down to the website owner, for example not keeping on top of updates or using weak passwords. Read our blog to learn about how to keep your WordPress website secure.

WordPress websites are slow

Naturally theme developers try to make their theme stand out from the rest by adding additional features and functionality. If you opt to purchase an off-the-shelf WordPress theme it is unlikely that you are going to use all of the features available. As a result this can cause your website to become bloated with resources being used up by features that are unused. The same thing can happen with plugins. Furthermore, overtime many websites can end up with a number of plugins that are no longer used at all but don’t get deleted.

The lesson here is to choose wisely when selecting a theme for your website, although advanced features are tempting ask yourself do you really need them all. However, sometimes it is impossible to tell until a theme is installed as to just how bloating it will be. The other option is to go for a bespoke theme and this will mean that the website should only include features that are needed for your requirements.

When it comes to plugins the key is to not get carried away and don’t install too many. Can one plugin do the job of multiple? Can a developer build you a more lightweight version?

There are also some great caching plugins that you can add onto your WordPress website to help with speed. We recommend W3 Total Cache.